Tapioca Starch Industry
Tapioca is the name used for the starch obtained from the roots of "cassava" plant which is generally widely known in the countries situated in the Ecuador zone. Obtained from vegetables, today, starch is one of the substances which are extensively used in many fields from textile sector to pharmaceuticals, from cosmetics sector to plastics as is or in chemical formulas. Starch can be obtained from a number of different plants such as corn, potato, wheat and cassava. Cassava is among the primary raw materials used for starch production carried out in the rural parts of Southeast Asian countries. Planting of cassava is increasing every other day for use in production of tapioca starch and this increase makes tapioca starch industry a growing industry where more modernistic equipment is used.


Process
Cassava roots delivered to the plant upon are firstly taken to the washing unit for the washing process. Upon completion of the washing process barks of cassava roots are peeled and a second washing process is carried out. Cassava plant which is then taken to the equipment called "Rasper" which crushes and presses cassava roots are fed to the decanter centrifuge directly upon completion of this process. Starch and juice of the fruit are separated in this stage by the use of decanter centrifuges. Starch slurry obtained upon separation in the decanter is transferred to the washing unit which is the following stage and then extraction stage is commenced following the washing process. Decanter centrifuges are used for separating pulp and water in the extraction stage. Starch is obtained upon final processing at the dryer, of the product which is subjected to concentration and drying processes following the extraction stage. Decanter centrifuges are used both in the first stage where fruit juice and starch slurry are separated and in the final extraction stage for separation of pulp and water throughout tapioca starch process.